A Noosa Council boss earning almost $400k has been accused by union members of ‘blocking’ a fair pay rise for their workers on about $60k.
Union organisers took their case directly to Hastings Street on Friday 30 May, explaining to ratepayers how their members have been treated.
Workers have been locked in a dispute with Noosa Council chief executive officer Larry Sengstock since February over a new three year pay deal.
Australian Workers’ Union (AWU) organiser Mick Anderson said, “It is an absolute disgrace that a council CEO earning almost $400,000 a year is trying to block low-paid workers for asking for a pay rise.”
“If he’s not threatening to dock pay from our workers, this CEO is offering us a dud deal dressed up as an improved pay offer.
“We know that under this CEO, council workers’ pay has fallen behind neighbouring councils.”
He said their neighbouring counterparts are earning closer to $70,000 a year, which makes it easier to live and work outside the Noosa Shire, where a median house price is roughly $1.5 million.
“This deal could be done tomorrow if the Mayor agreed to scrap the pay-rise deferral that would dud workers – that’s all our members are asking for,” Mick said.
“Council exists for the benefit of the community, and there is no community benefit in depriving low-paid workers and their families of a pay rise during a cost-of-living crisis.
“If the Mayor allows this to continue, we’ll see more potholes, more bins go unemptied, and residents will suffer.
“It’s time for the Mayor to step up, stop his CEO’s ridiculous behaviour, and deliver the pay rise Council workers deserve.”
Mick said they had a ‘really positive’ response from residents and ratepayers while door-knocking with flyers on Friday.
“They want to see this fixed up so they can have their services reinstated.”
Mick said, “The culture within Noosa Council prior to bargaining was toxic, it’s even worse right now. So these workers deserve better, and the AWU can’t stand for that behaviour.”
Noosa Council CEO Larry Sengstock said personal attacks were not conducive to conciliatory discussions and do little to progress the issue.
“We have made an offer of 15 per cent over three years which in the current climate is very generous,” Mr Sengstock said.
“This 15 per cent is also on top of a comprehensive package of additional benefits which staff overwhelmingly support. It is important to recognise that CPI is currently around 2.4 per cent.
“Council has made this offer within the parameters of supporting our workers but it is important to also realise that the extra payment will potentially lead to an increase in council rates – which is council’s primary source of income.”
Mr Sengstock said his job was to balance this.
“I have never said we are going to remove assets – in fact I have said that this offer is about securing the jobs of our workers. We need to work within the budgets that we have available,” he said.
“We have remained respectful and operated within the spirit of enterprise bargaining. We are profoundly disappointed that the unions have made this personal and detracted from constructive discussions.
“The actions Council has taken with staff lockouts have been reached after many weeks where staff have been operating under protected industrial action and have been fully paid without undertaking any of their duties.
“The law has prevented us from bringing in any additional resources during this period. We are however very grateful that since the lockout, the majority of staff have returned to work and we are making headway into the backlog of outstanding customer requests.
“It is also important to note that the negotiations continue during the lockout. We look forward to meeting again with the unions and the commissioner on Friday 6 June,” Mr Sengstock said.
